MISCELLANEOUS.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VIII, Issue 662, 6 December 1851, Page 4

MISCELLANEOUS.

Slavery.—-The slave trade has been suppressed on the coast of Africa, and the energy and good faith of the Brazilian Government have crushed it in Brazil. The Exeter Synod.—On the second day of the sittings of the Synod, the Lord Bishop, having taken his seat, said that the great business of the day was the consideration of the declaration on baptism with certain modifications, which he had printed. The synod then proceeded to the consideration of this document. The discussion upon it was very brie/, and most harmonious, having relation merely to the phraseology in the first and second paragraphs. Eventually it was carried unanimously, on the motion of the Rev. Prebendary Oxenham, seconded by the Rev. Mr. Downall, of Oakhampton, and supported by the Rev. Prebendary Hole. It sets forth the doctrine, that baptism gives unconditional remission of original sin, and of sins committed afterwards, conditionally on faith and repentance. “ The thrill of solemn delight” says the Morning Chronicle, “ which pervaded the synod on the adoption of this important declaration, stamped by the bishop rising from his chair, and solemnly pronouncing “ God be praised ;” and followed by the unanimous “Amen,” is a scene never to be forgotten.” The next subject for discussion was that of education according to the principles of the Church of England, including schools for the poor, middle schools, the training college for the masters at Exeter, for mistresses at Truro ; and inspection, and diocesan operations, were particularly recommended by the synod. Thus (remarks the above paper) ended the proceedings of the second day, and anything more successful and more harmonious, it would be impossible to conceive. Every member of the synod seemed possessed with the most ardent desire to further the great work of the Christian ’ inistry in which he was engaged. Everything said and done was of a most real and healthful character; not a question, not a speech, but had a practical purpose. The real work of the clergy was discussed—experiences interchanged— plans modified, approved, or criticised. The bishop throughout encouraging discussion, and a most businesslike and practical discussion took place. The synod, which commenced at eleven, sat till three ; then adjourned for evening, and sat till past six. We can now distinctly congratulate the church upon the success of this great experiment, far exceeding the most sanguine anticipations of its promoters. There can be but one opinion on the matter.” On Friday, the third day, after divine service in the cathedral, the synod re-assembled. A discussion took place on the pastoral superintendence th youth after leaving school, which was warmly recommended. It was also resolved “ that the whole matter be referred to a committee to be forthwith nominated by the lord bishop, and to report to his lordship.” The bishop then nominated the committee, and it was resolved further that the committee be requested to confer with the diocesan and local ooards in this diocese on the subject. A resolution moved by the Rev. Prebendary Oxenham, and seconded by the Rev. Dr/Cornisb, in favour of restoring a “ permanent, or comparatively permanent, order of deacons, under proper restrictions,” was carried with only five dissentients. The next resolution referred to procuring the aid of lay parishioners, especially by encouraging voluntary association for good works, “provided always that care be taken not to transgress the discipline of the church.” whirh : i 1 1 mi . " “ Carried unanimously. The last resolutions adopted were in favour of a “ stricter attention to the several orders of the church in the book of Common Prayer, and m the canons respecting the saying daily o. the morning and evening prayer, and the due observance of holy days,’’ ? The undermentioned sums have been awarded to the following general officers as rewards for distinguished services Lieut.general Lsoyd £2OO per annum ; Lieut.-ge-mer £2M m* 2 °° 5 Ma j° r 'g eneral Ayl--2 ’ Major-general Sir De Lacy Evans, £100; Major-general Fleming. £100: Major-general Maclachlan, £lOO. Articles found in the Crystal Palace.—27l handkerchiefs, 65 bracelets, 183

brooches, 118 parasols n i. bonnet shades, 14 silk ’ om ”ei *” JS < ton, 47 veils and falls, 2 8h " ™ 9 col . talogues and other books, 35b ln J d ’’ 5 * U--44 neck ties, 1 pair of CheBo De Ss 3 campstools, 16 victorines /t’ - 8 pers, 10 ladies’ cuffs, 1 nendnl Mf of 3 card cases, 15 briguet and * ch 2 . CQwa » knives, 3 pincushions, 28 pair of 2 walkingsticks, 10 pair of spectacle B ?,?’ 25 glasses, 16 pencil cases, 3 umbrell 12 6ye ' 4 rings, 3 fans, 1 silver watc k a- ’ CaBe '> opera glass, 2 toothpicks. 2 ti» s 1 ticules and baskets, 14" shawls "o'?’ 50 te * petticoat, 2 carpenters’ rules ’1 p b ° XeB > 1 dollar note, 3 scent bottles, i ?’ an 5 do. Is., 1 do. 2s. 7d., 1 do. 2» 6d ’’ 1 £5 9s. 4d., 1 do. 6d., 1 do lid ’ 1 do6s. 6d., 3 empty do., cash found £2 1 d °’ A Boy's Head Cot OnJI J’?’* named Thomas (son of David Th n ~ 111 e wise “Dai Calchwr,” of Neath with a shocking death at Aberd D j a i a on Thursday morning. The ltd wu ° W ° r^s as usual, when he inadvertently reach of the merciless clip of the shears used for cutting tin, and woST steam power. In an instant the poor L? head was severed from his body, and like a ball along the floor. -

Death of Dyce Sombre.— Mr. D Sombre, after a painful illness, died on T?* day evening at hia apartments in town. Th'" extraordinary person, whose premature di? appearance from among us will afflict all the lovers of Arabian Night extravagances, should not be allowed to depart without a closing, cord. The chance inheritor of enormous wealth, “ barbaric pearl and gold,” he wis induced in an evil hour to exchange the dreamy and voluptuous climate of his birth for our sterner and less congenial latitudes, where he cut the sadly incongruous figure with which the public is familiar. What were his claims of consanguinity or gratitude on the late Begum of Somroo has been somewhat of a mystery. The old lady seems to have made him the idol of her preference on the death of the Westphalian adventurer, Herr Summer, who had, after sundry wanderings throiwh the world, won her widowed affections. The°manner of Summer’s death, and the extraordinary treachery by which he was made to perpetrate bis own murder by the Begum, make the transfer of her predilection to his son somewhat of a puzzle. But that old beldame was a prodigy of fanciful caprice as well as viouic-. tive intensity. All India told othw coolly smoking her hooka over the fresh grave wh«e a rival dancing girl had just been buried alive. Young Dyce—whose surname of Sombre is a Spanish form of the German patronymic, just as Sumroo is its Indian equivalent—waseducated by a clergyman of the established church, though the Begum herself became a most enthusiastic partisan of the pope. Exquisitely selfish she founded a splendid mosque to secure a Mahometan paradise, should there be such a thing ; while, with a keen look-out in another direction, she built a large cathedral, with endowments for a bishop and friars, at the suggestion of a nondescript Portuguese padre, the companion of her convivial hours. Her adopted son Dyce would have probably become a fitting representative of his benefactress, and made an equally respectable member of Indian society ; but he was induced to make England his residence, and his career became a sort of anachronism. On bis way hither he visited Rome, aftd ordered the famous cenotaph—a marble group of angels, sepoys, elephants, and cannon, surmounted by the Begum smoking her narguille—to be executed by Tadolini. Not content with this tribute to the octogenarian Semiramis or Messalina of Upper India, he offered a large sum for a solemn high mass to be chaunted in the church of St. Carlo Borromeo, and caused the construction of sn immense woodsu falque to sustain the funeral bier and the mortuary decorations, while Dr. eloquence was procured to lavish the flow ets of oriental panegyric on the edifying M e ° the Eastern Mother Brownrigg. ser " mon was printed, and the catafalque figured some years afterwards in the ebure of St. Andrea, the Begum’s insignia being painted out to receive those cfO'ConpelvYiin me j&uropean portion or ivj. - bre’s career every reader of the daily j° nrn ® s is sufficiently conversant. It is only sary to remind the electors of Sudbury of t e crowning triumph of their borough when they elected him to close a long succession of liamentary success.— Lloyd's News,